Name change meets legal requirements

Rotorua Lakes Council Strategy and Partnerships group manager Jean-Paul Gaston

The Rotorua Lakes Council has dismissed claims its recent name change may be in breach of the law.

Rotorua website The Mud said the "brand refresh" from Rotorua District Council to Rotorua Lakes Council could be in breach of section 23 of the Local Government Act which says: "A territorial authority that is a district council must be described as the (name of district) District Council".

The council changed its operating name to the Rotorua Lakes Council on November 28.

However, the council's Strategy and Partnerships group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said the council's formal and legal name, Rotorua District Council, remained unchanged and met the requirements of the Act.

"Like a number of other councils around the country, we have adopted a slightly different name for our day-to-day operations. The formal name will continue to be referred to where it is necessary for legal compliance.

"A number of other councils in New Zealand also operate under a name that is different to their legal name. For example, Environment Southland, whose legal name is Southland Regional Council, Environment Waikato, and Horizons, for the Manawatu/Wanganui Regional Council."

He said the requirements of the act were considered before the change.

An Internal Affairs' spokesman also confirmed the operating name change was legal.

"The council has not legally changed its name, only its brand.

"Its legal name remains that which is stated in Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 2002: the Rotorua District Council.

"A number of councils operate on a day-to-day basis under 'brand' names, but use their legal names in all official documents," the spokesman said.